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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — Congress must work together in the wake of Speaker of the House John Boehner's
announcement of his resignation
, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-5th District) said Friday.

Boehner announced Friday that he would step down as Speaker of the House and resign his seat at the end of October.
According to the New York Times
, Boehner has been working to pass a continuing resolution that would prevent a looming government shutdown. But he was under pressure from fellow Republicans who said they would only support a CR that defunded Planned Parenthood.

“Speaker John Boehner’s resignation clears a path for approval of a CR without continuing obstructionists efforts to defund Planned Parenthood – an opportunity that the House leadership should seize immediately," Blumenthal said in a statement after Boehner's announcement.

Blumenthal also acknowledged Boehner's work.

"Speaker Boehner is a dedicated public servant who has worked hard to bring together a deeply divided Congress and Republican Party," Blumenthal said. "Regardless of who succeeds him as Speaker, I hope this change in leadership will help bring Republicans together so the Congress can accomplish more, and move away from governing by crisis."

He called on Congress to move past its differences and work to accomplish its goals.

"Congress must overcome its divisions and frequent dysfunction to address the real issues facing America such as our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, skyrocketing college costs, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.”

Esty praised Boehner's accomplishments as Speaker of the House, and echoed Blumenthal's sentiments that Congress must work together.

“I commend Speaker Boehner for his years of service to our country. Yesterday, Pope Francis called on us to show servant leadership, setting aside our differences to care for the most vulnerable," Esty said in a statement Friday.

"As Speaker Boehner completes his tenure capstoned by Pope Francis’ historic address, I am hopeful that we will have the opportunity to act on that vision by voting on a commonsense measure to prevent gun violence in our country. I look forward to working with Speaker Boehner over the next few weeks. I wish him well in his future endeavors, and I thank him and his family for their service.”